Definition
界 (jiè) as a suffix means 'realm, world, sphere' (e.g., 动物界 animal kingdom, 学术界 academic circles) — broader than 领域 (lǐngyù, a specific field) and 王国 (wángguó, a kingdom). As a noun it means 'boundary, border', more abstract than 边界 (biānjiè, a physical border) and 界限 (jièxiàn, a dividing line/limit).
noun
(suffix) realmworldsphereboundaryborder
Easily confused
- 接jiēsound-aliketo answer (the phone), to pick up (someone), to receive (an object or person)
- 街jiēsound-alikestreet
- 借jièsound-aliketo borrow
- 节jiésound-alike(classifier) for segments of connected things: lessons, train cars, sections
- 结jiésound-alike(noun) knot
- 结jiēsound-alike(of plants) to produce (fruit or seeds)
- 解jiěsound-aliketo untie; to loosen; to separate
- 戒jièsound-aliketo quit, to give up (a habit or addiction)
- 劫jiésound-aliketo rob; to plunder; to seize by force
- 皆jiēsound-alike(formal) all, each and every
Examples
- 。Liǎng guó de jiè xiàn shàng yǒu zuò qiáo.There is a bridge on the border line between the two countries.
- 。Dòngwù jiè de duōyàng xìng lìng rén jīngtàn.The diversity of the animal kingdom is amazing.
- 。Tā zài xuéshù jiè yǒu hěn gāo de shēngyù.He has a high reputation in academic circles.
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